Box



, ing elements 11, secured thereto in a similarv Patented June 24g, 1924..

iiitl STATES i raast? earns-ir series BOX.

T 0 all itx/720711, it vmay concern Be it known that l, Jnssn EICHHORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at `West Collingswood, in the county of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Box, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in boxes. The object is to provide a box and removable lid, and means associated therewith whereby the elements may be locked together automatically when brought into closing position. and whereby the same may be released from locking engagement by pressure exerted upon one locking element to cause its withdrawal from the other.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate, merely by way of example, suitable means for eifecting my invention;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a box and lid as sociated together with locking means in accordance with my invention, part being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section through the box and lid and the locking elements.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section showing a locking element disengaged from its mate.

Fig. 3 is a section with the lid separated from the box.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of same.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the lid 5 is shown as telescoping over the box 6 g the side portions-7 of the lid extending substantially the entire width of the side portions 8 of the box. The resilient locking elements 9 are secured to the opposite side walls 7 of the lid portions. These elements 9 have extensions passing through slits in said side portions 7, which are bent up and clinched, as at l0, to hold said elements 9 in fixed position with respect to said lid. The upper portions of said elements 9 no-rmally extend away from the faceof said side portion 7. That is to say the extensions of elements 9 from the slits upwardly are inclined away from the inner surface of side portions 7 and terminate in a horizontal lip, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Upon the corresponding side portions 8, of the box 6 are provided the cooperating lockway to that described with respect to elements 9. Elements 11 are provided at their upper ends with the horizontal projections Application filed September 17, 1921. Serial No. 501,328.

or lips 12. The main extensions of said elements 11 are adapted to lie dat against the outer side portions 8 shown particularly in Fig. 3.

The side portions 7 of the lid member are provided with marginal recessesn as at 1.3, which are positioned just beneath and adjacent to the elements 9 and 11.

It will be understood that the locking elements 9 and l1 are so placed relatively that, when the lid and box are brought into closing position thehorizontal lips of these ele ments will assume a locking relationship as shown in Fig. 2.

lt will also be understood that these elements 9 and 11 may be secured to the box and lid respectively in any suit-able way.

In operation:

Then the box and lid are being brought intorclosing positiomas shown in Fig. 2, the projections or lips 12 will engage and ride over the inclined extensions of elements 9i until the projections or lips 12 have passed over the top or horizontal lips of said elements 9, whereupon said elements 9 will spring back to normal position and serve as a detent for normally engaging projections 12 and preventing the separation of the box and the lid; in other words the box and lid will become automatically locked together upon being brought into the closed position.

When however, it is desired to separate the box from the lid, it is only necessary to exert pressure against a side portion 8 of the box wall, at the recess 13, to cause a bending in of said side portion, away from the adjacent side portion 7, of the lid. This results in carrying the projection 12 away from the top of element 9, as shown in Fig. 2. In this way one side of box and lid may be separated. By the separating movement of the box and lid at one side thereof, the projection 12 at the other side becomes disengaged from its cooperating locking ele ment 9, so that the entire box and lid may now be separated, one from the other.

An important feature of this construction is that the locking mechanism may be entirely hidden from view, and is so protected as to prevent any possibility of disengagement without the exertion of considerable pressurerat the required point., through one of the recesses 13.

Such a structure forms a convenient mailing box or carton, in that it forms extremely eicient means for locking the lid and box together with the least possible expenditure of tiine; and without the requirement of anyv Trapping or tieing ineens, and conseqnentlx/f' with the saving of the time usually required in manipulating said ineans,

llfhile l have shown ay preferred forni of. cooperating catch mechanism, it will be obvions that other forms may be used Without departing froln the spirit of my invention. Y That clailn is l. n combination with a. box and a lid having telescoping side Walls, concealed releasable locking eleinents, one secured to the outer side of a side Wall of the. box, and one secured to the inner side of a side Wall of the lid, comprising sheet metal formations having cooperating horizontal extensions, one element also having an inclined forniation extending from its horizontal extension, for bringing` said cooperating horizontal extensions into locking relationship.

2. In combination with a. box and a lid having telescoping side Walls, concealed releasable locking elements, comprising sheet metal formations, one associated With t-he outer side of a` side Wall of the box and one With the inner side of a side Wall of the lid and having cooperating horizontal extensions, one element also having an inclined formation extending from its horizontal exprovided with a horizontal extension adjacent the top of the box, the other clinched the inner side of a side Wall of the lid and l'iaving a horizontal lip adjacent to but spaced slightl; from the top of said lid, and an inclined formation extending from one horizontal extension for brining the said horizontrfll extensions into lockinqengageinent.

il. ln combination With av box and a lid having telescoping side Walls, releasable locking elements comprising sheet xnetal formations secured to said side Walls of the box and lid respectively, and having cooperating horizontal lip extensionsy one elenient also having an inclined formation, extending froni its horizontal extension, for bringing said horizont-al lip extensions inte locking relationship, the side Walls of the lid having' marginal recesses adjacent the locking elements, for permitting the exertion of disengaging pressure on the Wall of the box.

JESSE EICHHORN. 

